A World Cup without Germany is impossible to imagine, and they duly qualified for their 15th consecutive finals with a 1-0 victory in Russia. Miroslav Klose scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute as Germany weathered early and late storms and rode their luck after Jerome Boateng was sent off on his debut in the 69th minute.

Joachim Low's side held on to open up an unassailable four-point lead at the top of Group Four with one game remaining, leaving Guus Hiddink's Russia with the consolation of a place in the play-offs.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute when he turned well on the edge of the penalty area and shot straight at Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler.

Andrey Arshavin then played a neat ball into the path of Vladimir Bystrov, who was left with only Adler to beat, but the Germany No1 made the first of numerous crucial saves to deny him with his legs.

Low's side went ahead in the 34th minute with Podolski and Ozil again linking well. Ozil then pulled the ball back from the byline to Klose, who managed to dig the ball out from behind his stride and direct it inside the near post.

In the second half Germany had their backs to the wall and Boateng, making his debut, was sent off for a second yellow card in the 69th minute for a foul on Vladimir Bystrov. But Russia were unable to take advantage of their extra man on the field, although they were unfortunate not to be given a penalty late on.

The contact Michael Ballack made on Arshavin was innocuous enough, and referee Massimo Busacca was right to wave play on, but the Russians will have felt aggrieved when the Swiss official again opted not to point to the spot moments later after Arne Friedrich fouled Bystrov.

In a dead rubber in England's group, Belarus thrashed Kazakhstan 4-0, while Switzerland will be within a point of qualification provided they hold on to their 3-0 half-time lead in Luxembourg.